The History of Flat Rock in Needlework

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Shortly after the Village of Flat Rock was incorporated in 1996, Gretchen Highlander — wife of Flat Rock’s first mayor, Cyrus Highlander — set out to celebrate the town’s rich history in a unique and lasting way. She envisioned a quilt that would stitch together the stories, landmarks, and spirit of Flat Rock, and soon rallied a group of talented residents to help bring her idea to life.

Over the course of three years, nearly 20 community members collaborated to craft 23 intricate panels, each one depicting iconic structures, pivotal moments, and beloved figures from Flat Rock’s past. Guided by Gretchen and local historian Louise Howe Bailey, the group meticulously documented the village’s heritage through their needlework, creating a living tapestry of history.

On December 5, 1999, the quilt was formally dedicated and presented to the Village. Today, this remarkable piece of art hangs proudly in the Conference Room at Flat Rock Village Hall, standing as a vibrant testament to the tradition, community spirit, and shared pride that continue to define Flat Rock.

Among those who contributed was Flat Rock resident Georgia Bonesteel, a nationally renowned quilter and longtime host of a PBS quilting series. Reflecting on the project, Georgia credits Gretchen’s energy and vision for its success. “Gretchen was so enthusiastic and always positive about the project. The rest of us just went along for the ride,” she recalls with a smile. “We were all honored to be part of such a wonderful memorial for our Village.”

Comments from Gretchen Highlander at the Dedication

Gretchen HIghlander

“All my life, I have found needlework to be a gentle and comforting hobby; if one is patient and careful, and somewhat talented, it can also be very beautiful. It is often a labor of love. For more than three years, sixteen of us Flat Rock women have been working together, dreaming, planning, sewing – oh, how we have been sewing – and, as a result, creating our own vision of the History of Flat Rock.

We have used many art and stitchery techniques: painting, needlepoint, counted cross stitch, embroidery, appliqué and quilting, whatever best suited our individual talents. We think our finished wall hanging is truly something special; it most assuredly has been a labor of love. It makes us proud to be able to present it as our gift to the Village of Flat Rock. We hope it will be enjoyed for years to come by those who appreciate the singular history of our little part of the South, and by anyone who enjoys stitchery – which I believe to be the handwork of the soul.

I would like to give my personal thanks to Louise Bailey. Not only has she given us guidance in the selection of subjects for our wall hanging, but has written for us a wonderful short history of Flat Rock presenting valuable information about each of our panels.

There are many others who have provided encouragement, ideas, drawings and supplies for this project, and we are most grateful to them for their contributions.” - Gretchen Highlander

(Scroll to the bottom of this article to see the list of participants.)

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Descriptions of Each Panel and Its Creator
(From the original descriptions as written in 1999)

Early Settlers
Needlepoint by Priscilla Chase Heindel
Priscilla’s mother taught her to knit when she was six years old. She has been a confirmed “needle-woman” ever since: knitting; crocheting; sewing for herself, three daughters, and four granddaughters; smocking; cross-stitch; embroidery; crewel work; counted cross-stitch; bargello; and traditional needlepoint. She owned and managed her own yarn shop in Winchester, Massachusetts, for eleven years.

Rhett’s Mill
Applique and photo transfer by Georgia Bonesteel
Saying that Georgia quilts is like saying that Meryl Streep acts – it is a little short of the full story. Georgia not only quilts, she teaches, she judges quilt shows, she is the creator of the PBS television series “Lap Quilting,” and she is the author of many books related to quilt making. Most recently Georgia has served as president of the International Quilt Association. “Teaching,” Georgia says, “is my first love, since in this way I am able to do my small part to perpetuate the art of quilt making.”

Mountain Lodge
Needlepoint by Wilhelmina Grathwol Norlin
Wilhelmina grew up in Stratford, Connecticut, has lived all over the country, and finally arrived “home” in North Carolina when her husband retired. She has done sewing, knitting, needlepoint, quilting and heirloom hooking for several years.

Old Post Office
Applique and embroidery by Eunice Saum
Eunice’s sewing career began in the late 1950s after the birth of three daughters, but her interest in quilting began in the early 1980s. When they moved to the Hendersonville area, her new love for sewing changed to quilting. She joined the Western North Carolina Quilters’ Guild, learned new techniques, and was an active participant in the group.

Argyle
Applique by Ladonna Marie Gerding Benning
Born on a farm near Glandorf, Ohio, Ladonna was introduced to quilting at a young age by her mother, who had created many lovely quilts that her children and grandchildren cherish. Ladonna graduated from Mary Manse College, Toledo, Ohio, and taught elementary grades in Ohio and Illinois for a few years. In the 1970s, she moved to New Jersey, where she taught craft classes and discovered an interest in quilting as a hobby. Since moving to Flat Rock, she joined a quilt guild and has taken classes taught by Georgia Bonesteel to learn more about this folk art.

Woodfield Inn (Farmer’s Hotel)
Embroidery and painting by Marianne Holloway Kidd
Marianne was born in New Orleans, Louisiana, and was raised in Atlanta, Georgia. She has been involved with crafts and sewing for over twenty-five years. While living in Richmond, Virginia, she had a finishing business for five years for several needlework shops. She has been making teddy bears and related items for about eighteen years.

Many Pines
Embroidery and painting by Linda Diane Yurk Sokalski, Ph.D.
Linda was born in Flint, Michigan. She took three degrees in Electrical Engineering: B.S.E. (summa cum laude) from the University of Michigan, M.S. from the California Institute of Technology, and Ph.D. from Stanford University. She was employed by the Bell Telephone System and its successors until she retired in 1992. She and her husband moved to Flat Rock in 1996. She is a master craftsman of Counted Thread Embroidery, a teacher certified in Knitting, is currently the vice president of the Flat Rock chapter of the Embroiders’ Guild of America, and librarian for the Western North Carolina Quilters’ Guild. Her work has been juried into numerous national, regional, and local quilt and needlework shows.

Mud Creek Church
Applique and embroidery by Sharon Rae Lantz Hurley
Sharon Rae was born and raised in Clarksburg, West Virginia, with quilting and the love of quilts in her blood. She never had any lessons other than seeing her mother always working on a quilt. Today, making a quilt is still her favorite pastime. It only seemed natural that when the Village of Flat Rock asked for needle workers and quilters, she would have to volunteer. She spent about six months collecting all the materials to do the Mud Creek Baptist Church and, after much trial and error, finally was able to produce the panel.

Flat Rock Depot
Counted cross-stitch depot by Emerentia (Emmy) Maria Smits Buiting
Embroidery, counted cross-stitch, and painting for train and background by Gretchen Habighorst Highlander
Emmy attended the Kunst Academy in The Hague, Holland, and concentrated on “Holbein” and “Tambouret net” and the designs for both. Holbein is needlework that is exactly the same on both sides. Tambouret net (a variation of Limerick Lace and Needlerun net Lace) is mostly worked in chain stitch either with a needle or a fine hook.

Beaumont
Applique and painting by Jane Celeste Hughey Mellon
Jane has been a quilter for thirty-eight years and has been painting for many more.

Louise Howe Bailey
Silk ribbon embroidery by Kathryn Jean Clark Wells
Silhouette cut and appliqued by Gretchen Habighorst Highlander
Kathryn and her husband, Andrew, moved to this area in 1994, from Memphis, Tennessee, where she had been engaged in the practice of law. At the present time she is enjoying the active life of being a mother of two seven-year-olds and one six-year-old. She began sewing at a very young age and discovered the joys of silk ribbon embroidery nearly four years ago.

Cherokee and Trader on the Great Flat Rock
Applique and embroidery by Ann Katherine (Kat) Karinja-Wells
Kat, with her husband of 30 years, Jeremy, are the owners/officers of Wells Nursery, Inc., a wholesale grower of rhododendrons and other specialty plants. Born and raised in Rumson, New Jersey, she is a self-taught artist and designer under her label of “Dreamkeeper Cottage Studio and Workshop.” The mother of two, grandmother of one, she designed the home she and Jeremy built in Flat Rock in 1996. As a returning college student in her thirties, she earned a B.S. in Financial Management and a B.A. in Monetary Economics and Finance from the University of North Carolina in Asheville, graduating summa cum laude in 1989.

Frank L. FitzSimons
Silk ribbon embroidery by Kathryn Jean Clark Wells
Silhouette cut and appliqued by Gretchen Habighorst Highlander
Kathryn and her husband, Andrew, moved to this area in 1994, from Memphis, Tennessee, where she had been engaged in the practice of law. At the present time she is enjoying the active life of being a mother of two seven-year-olds and one six-year-old. She began sewing at a very young age and discovered the joys of silk ribbon embroidery nearly four years ago.

Connemara (Rock Hill)
Applique and painting by Jane Celeste Hughey Mellon
Jane has been a quilter for thirty-eight years and has been painting for many more.

Chanteloup (deChoisuel's "Castle")
Applique by Ladonna Marie Gerding Benning
Born on a farm near Glandorf, Ohio, Ladonna was introduced to quilting at a young age by her mother, who had created many lovely quilts that her children and grandchildren cherish. Ladonna graduated from Mary Manse College (Toledo, Ohio) and taught elementary grades in Ohio and Illinois for a few years. In the 1970s, she moved to New Jersey, where she taught craft classes and discovered an interest in quilting as a hobby. Since moving to Flat Rock, she joined a quilt guild and has taken classes taught by Georgia Bonesteel to learn more about this folk art.

I’On Lowndes House with Flat Rock Playhouse
Applique and embroidery by Carol Rabberman Price
In college, Carol majored in Fine Arts doing studio work in painting and sculpture. She then received degrees in both Occupational Therapy and Nursing and worked at those, at separate times, for some years. She began sewing at age ten and her first quilting experiences were designing and making bed quilts for the family. On moving to the Hendersonville area in 1990, she began taking quilting classes and also began weaving. She now works at both as much as time will allow. As a member of the Western North Carolina Quilters’ Guild, she has entered quilt shows and contributed quilted items to various charities.

St. John in the Wilderness Church
Applique and embroidery by Eunice Saum
Eunice’s sewing career began in the late 1950s after the birth of three daughters, but her interest in quilting began in the early 1980s. When they moved to the Hendersonville area, her new love for sewing changed to quilting. She joined the Western North Carolina Quilters’ Guild, learned new techniques, and was an active participant in the group.

Bonclarken
Applique by Georgia Bonesteel
Georgia’s very contemporary rendering uses as the background a fabric reproduction of Cora Minty’s pen-and-ink drawing of Bonclarken as it used to look. The foreground shows an impression of the roofline of the current building.

Kenmure (Glenroy)
Needlepoint by Anne Zabriskie
Anne moved from Fairfax, Virginia, to Flat Rock in 1991. She and her husband have three children and six grandchildren. Her hobbies are knitting, needlepoint, and golf.

Markley’s Blacksmith Shop
Applique and embroidery by Ann Katherine (Kat) Karinja-Wells
Kat, with her husband of 30 years, Jeremy, are the owners/officers of Wells Nursery, Inc., a wholesale grower of rhododendrons and other specialty plants. Born and raised in Rumson, New Jersey, she is a self-taught artist and designer under her label of “Dreamkeeper Cottage Studio and Workshop.” The mother of two, grandmother of one, she designed the home she and Jeremy built in Flat Rock in 1996. As a returning college student in her thirties, she earned a B.S. in Financial Management and a B.A. in Monetary Economics and Finance from the University of North Carolina in Asheville, graduating summa cum laude in 1989.

Saluda Cottages
Counted cross-stitch and embroidery by Marianne Holloway Kidd
Marianne was born in New Orleans, Louisiana, and was raised in Atlanta, Georgia. She has been involved with crafts and sewing for over 25 years. While living in Richmond, Virginia, she had a finishing business for five years for several needlework shops. She has been making teddy bears and related items for about 18 years.

Peace’s Store
Applique and embroidery by Anne Marie Garry
Painting by Jane Mellon
Anne Marie and her husband moved to Flat Rock from Connecticut nine years ago. They have four sons. Quilting was a natural development from an early fondness for sewing and knitting.

Flat Rock Village Office
Embroidery by Gretchen Habighorst Highlander
Gretchen’s Habighorst grandmother taught her to knit. Gretchen loved her and treasured her grandmother's love for her, which most likely is why needlework and the memory of her grandmother have filled Gretchen’s life. The “History of Flat Rock” has been a special kind of needlework for her, giving her the opportunity to see the processes by which the stitchers have produced their beautiful works of art. She spent time with wonderful women she had not known before, and, in the course of this endeavor, she learned much about the people and history of our small town. She was once a Northerner, but at the end of this project, she finds herself rather pleasantly and firmly embedded in Old Flat Rock. Perhaps she has turned into a Southerner. Wouldn’t that be nice?

Project Participants

PLANNING ........ Gretchen Highlander, Georgia Bonesteel, Louise Bailey, Eunice Saum, Jane Mellon
PANEL SELECTION ..... Louise Bailey, Gretchen Highlander
ASSEMBLING ... Georgia Bonesteel, Donna and Tom Benning, Katherine Wells, Sharon Hurley, Gretchen Highlander
QUILTING ......... Donna Benning, Sharon Hurley, Georgia Bonesteel, Gretchen Highlander
NEEDLEPOINT BLOCKING ...... Marianne Kidd
WRITTEN HISTORY ..... Old Flat Rock by Louise Bailey

STITCHERS:
DONNA BENNING: Argyle and Chanteloup
GEORGIA BONESTEEL: Bonclarken and Rhett’s Mill
EMMY BUITING: Flat Rock Depot
ANNE GARRY: Peace’s Store
PRISCILLA HEINDEL: Early Settlers
GRETCHEN HIGHLANDER: Flat Rock Village Office
SHARON HURLEY: Mud Creek Church
MARIANNE KIDD: Woodfield Inn and Saluda Cottages
JANE MELLON: Connemara and Beaumont
WILLIE NORLIN: Mountain Lodge
CAROL PRICE: I’On Lowndes House and Flat Rock Playhouse
EUNICE SAUM: Old Post Office and St. John in the Wilderness Church
LINDA SOKALSKI: Many Pines
KATHERINE WELLS: Markley Blacksmith Shop and Cherokee and Trader on the Great Flat Rock
KATHRYN WELLS: Ribbon Embroidery on Bailey and FitzSimons panels
ANNE ZABRISKIE: Kenmure


CONSERVATION ...... June Bernst
BROCHURE ...... Gretchen Highlander